I love Christmas and have so many fun memories from over the years.  One funny one that I always remember is the year that my parents were replacing their dishes.  Santa brought the family a new set.  He wrapped each plate set individually and then, so that the kids would have more to open, addressed them to us kids.  The first two gifts that my brother Matt opened from Santa were sets of dishes.  He burst out crying as if he thought he was being punished.  We still laugh about that one today.

Me and my grandmothers: Abuela (Mary) and Grandmama (Jane) on Christmas day a few years ago.
 

For me, my favorite Christmas tradition has always and may always be our Noche Buena (translated to Good Night, but means Christmas Eve) Party.  My parents host all of the family and several friends, so both sets of grandparents, and both sides of cousins have always filled the house.  We eat traditional Cuban food consisting of delicious roast pork in mojo, black beans, rice, and yuka.  Having a house full of everyone brings about the feeling of love, family and togetherness.  It is one of my favorite nights of the year!

My new favorite Christmas song is You're Here by Franchesca Battistelli.  I heard it for the first time last year and fell in love with the lyrics.

Hold on now, I gotta take a deep breath
I don’t know what to say when I look in your eyes
You made the world before I was born
But here I am holding You in my arms tonight
Noel, Noel, Jesus our Emmanuel 

You’re here, I’m holding You so near
I’m staring into the face of my Savior, King and Creator
You could’ve left us on our own, but You’re here 

I don’t know how long I’m gonna have You for
But I’ll be watching when You change the world
Look at Your hands, they’re still so small
Someday You’re gonna stretch them out and save us all
Noel, Noel, God with us Emmanuel 

You’re here, I’m holding You so near
I’m staring into the face of my Savior, King and Creator
You could’ve left us on our own, but you’re here… you’re here 

~~~

Someday I’m gonna look back on this
The night that God became a baby boy
Someday You're gonna go home again,
But You'll leave your spirit and flood the world with joy 

You’ll be here, I’m holding You so near
I’m staring into the face of my Savior, King and Creator
You could’ve left me on my own, but you’re here…Alleluia, You’re here